Dice-K leads Mets into finale with Padres

(SportsNetwork.com) - After spending most of this season in the bullpen, Daisuke Matsuzaka has eased back into a starting role. Sunday, the New York Mets right-hander tries to win his second consecutive start when his team plays the rubber match of a three-game set versus the San Diego Padres.

Matsuzaka, who limited the Brewers to a run over six innings on Tuesday,
hasn't lost in the majors since Sept. 2, 2013. His only career start against
the Padres resulted in a win.

Ian Kennedy, who has worked six or more innings in 12 of his 14 starts this
season, counters for San Diego. The righty suffered a loss Tuesday at
Philadelphia. He's 4-1 with a 4.25 ERA in six career games versus the Mets.

Yesterday, rookie Jesse Hahn and three relievers tossed a combined two-hitter,
as San Diego blanked New York, 5-0.

Hahn (1-1) dazzled in just his second major league start, striking out seven
in six innings of work, yielding just a leadoff infield single to Ruben
Tejada and three walks. Dale Thayer and Joaquin Benoit each threw clean
innings out of the bullpen and Huston Street pitched around a one-out single
in the ninth to secure Hahn's first career win.

Hahn, who lasted just 3 2/3 innings in a 4-1 loss to the Pirates on June 3 in
his major league debut, also went 1-for-2 at the plate in this one and drove
in his first career run.

"I was very relaxed this time," Hahn said. "This time I went out there, stayed
focused, stayed calm and pitched my game."

Chase Headley homered, drove in a pair and scored twice for San Diego, which
put the brakes on a season-long five-game slide.

Zack Wheeler (2-7) was charged with four runs on six hits over five innings
for the Mets and remained winless in five home starts this season. His last
win at Citi Field came on Aug. 20 of last season.

"We haven't seen Hahn," said Mets manager Terry Collins. "(He) had an
outstanding breaking ball. He kept us really off balance his entire outing. It
was just one of those days."